Day 3 at the Cheltenham Festival is headlined by two Group 1 features, the Ryanair Chase (17h20) and the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (18h00).
Gaelic Warrior, well fancied for the Ryanair was a notable omission, and Willie Mullins is now only represented by Fact To File. The JP McManus owned runner will face nine rivals in a strong-looking edition, including last year’s winner Protektorat and King George VI Chase runner-up Il Est Francais.
Galopin Des Champs (Paul Townend) wins the 2024 Boodles Gold Cup (Pic – Cheltenham Racecourse on FB)
The lightly raced eight-year-old has only contested seven chases, winning four and been placed behind Galopin Des Champs over three miles at Group 1 level the last twice.
This drop in trip to two and a half miles could be just what he needs to show his best with Franch raider II Est Francais guaranteed to ensure a good gallop up front.
Protektorat loves it around here, and together with recent Denman Chase winner Djelo should fight out the placings.
Forty minutes later Teahupoo attempts to defend his crown in the 3-mile Stayers’ Hurdle. He faces 14 rival’s chief of which looks to be the ten-year-old Home By The Lee, who finished third last season.
Irish trainer Gordon Elliott has followed a similar path to last year with the favourite Teahupoo, having only two starts in the runup to this, his seasons target.
Teahupoo’s ‘younger legs’ should give him the advantage over fellow Irish raider Home By The Lee and should give his rider Jack Kennedy a winning return following an injury.
Friday is all about Galopin des Champs as he attempts to add his name to the Gold Cup honours board for a third time. Only Golden Miller, Arkle, Cottage Rake and most recently Best Mate have achieved the feat in the blue riband event of National Hunt racing, the Boodles Gold Cup (18h00).
The nine-year-old has won eleven of his sixteen chases and only been beaten over 3-miles twice at Punchestown by Fastorslow.
He excels over three miles plus which he gets on Friday, and his big rivals Fastorslow and Gerri Colombe are sidelined through injury. Add to that his stablemate Fact To File now heads for the Ryanair, and this looks his for the taking.
The Willie Mullins trained runner is challenged by nine rivals of which Banbridge, the King George V winner, looks his biggest danger. Officially the second highest runner in the field, Banbridge is 9lbs inferior to the defending champ.
The Joseph O’Brien trained runner is also more effective on better ground, so his connections will be praying for no more rain.
Nothing would be better than to see ‘Galopin’ join those illustrious heroes from yesteryear on Friday afternoon.
